Tel Aviv: Prime Minister Narendra Modi who is the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Israel in its history arrived today at Ben Gurion airport. The Prime Minister was welcomed by Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Speaking during his red carpet welcome, Netanyahu said: My friend Prime Minister Narendra Modi, welcome to Israel. Aapka Swagat hai, mere dost. We have been waiting for you a long time, we have been waiting for 70 years in fact because yours is truly a historic visit. It’s the first time that Indian Prime Minister is visiting Israel. We receive you with open arms. We love India, we admire your culture, your history, your democracy, your commitment to progress. We agreed to break down the remaining walls between India and Israel. When we met first at United Nations and then at Paris and we spoke number of times over phone calls. In our meeting You had said when it comes to India – Israel relations, the sky is the limit. But actually the sky isn’t the limit because today even our space programmes are working together to achieve even greater height.It’s so natural that we could ask what took so long for them to blossom. It took meeting of minds and hearts, commitment of government.

My friend Indian Prime Minister @narendramodi, we have been waiting for you for a long time. Welcome to Israel! pic.twitter.com/crnpi33OMs

— Benjamin Netanyahu (@netanyahu) July 4, 2017

Netanyahu spoke about a 40 million dollar innovation fund as seed for even greater partnership and ties in the fields of water, agriculture, security, energy and many many other fields. Netanyahu coined I square T square slogan which means Indian Talent and Technology and Israeli Talent and Technology.

Netanyayu said, in Silicon valley of California, two languages used are Hindi and Hibru. He said the Jews of India and 10,000 Israelis of Indian accent are bridge connecting two nations.

Netanyahu told Narendra Modi, “you are a great leader of India and a great world leader. Your visit to Israel is testament to that.”

Speaking on the same dais, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, it is his singular honor to be the first ever prime minister of India to undertake this groundbreaking visit to Israel. “I want to thank my friend PM Netanyahu for the invitation and for receiving me with so much warmth. My visit celebrates the strength of centuries old link between our societies,” he said.

The moment we were all waiting for…. #ModiInIsrael — https://t.co/NgrWPloHCm pic.twitter.com/QJ9l2FG6sQ

— The Jerusalem Post (@Jerusalem_Post) July 4, 2017

The people of Israel have built a nation on democratic principle. They have nurtured it with hard work, innovation. Converted challenges into opportunities. India applauds your achievement. Today is July 4. Exactly 41 years since operation Entebbe the day when your PM and my friend lost his elder brother while saving the lives of so many hostages. India is very old civilization but a young nation. 800 million people in India are below 35 age group. Talented and skilled youths of India are also its driving force. India counts Israel amongst its important partners.

Prime Minister Modi is going to attend 18 programmes during his 48-hour long Israel visit. President Ariel Sharon was the first Israeli President to visit India. That happened during BJP led NDA government under Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

After the welcome ceremony at the airport PM Modi headed straight to the Danziger Floriculture Production Unit.

Full Text of Press Statement by Prime Minister on arrival in Tel Aviv (July 04, 2017)

Excellency Prime Minister Netanyahu

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Shalom le kulaam ani semya mayodh lehiyot po (I am delighted to be here in Israel.) It is my singular honour to be the first ever Prime Minister of India to undertake this ground breaking visit to Israel. I want to thank my friend, Prime Minister Netanyahu, for the invitation and for receiving me with so much warmth. My visit celebrates the strength of centuries old links between our societies. Based on these bonds our partnership has maintained a strong and sustained upswing since the establishment of full diplomatic relations 25 years ago.

Friends,

The people of Israel have built a nation on democratic principles. They have nurtured it with hard work, grit and the spirit of innovation. You have marched on regardless of adversity and converted challenges into opportunity. India applauds your achievements.

Today is July 4, exactly 41 years since Operation Entebbe. The day when your Prime Minister, and my friend, Bibi, lost his older brother Yoni, while saving the lives of so many Israeli hostages. Your heroes are an inspiration for the younger generations.

Friends,

India is a very old civilization but a young nation. 800 million people in India fall below 35 years of age. The talented and skilled youth of India are also its driving force. They propel my vision to transform India, its industry, its economy, its way of doing business, and its interface with the world.

Friends,

In our path of sustained high growth and all around development, India counts Israel among its important partners. The need to rely on science, technology, innovation, and higher technical education to overcome our developmental challenges is common to both of us. These domains also bring together the creative energy and ideas of the highly skilled youth and entrepreneurs of the two countries. Alongside building a partnership for shared economic prosperity, we are also cooperating to secure our societies against common threats such as terrorism.

A progressive partnership in all these areas would shape the scope of my conversation with Prime Minister Netanyahu. I am also keen to interact with the Indian diaspora in Israel, including a large number of Jews of Indian origin, who have enriched both our societies.

Excellency and Friends,

My visit marks a path breaking journey of engagement. A journey that we are excited to undertake together for the good of our people and societies. As we march together, a strong and resilient partnership with Israel will be my intent and focus. I thank you once again for this tremendous welcome.

Thank you. Thank you very much.